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Assess the View That the Nuclear Family Is No Longer the Norm.

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Assess the view that the Nuclear family is no longer the norm.

The definition of a nuclear family is a family unit that consists of a mother, father and their children, who all live together. It can be argued that the nuclear family is no longer the norm but some sociologists, like Murdock and Talcott Parsons, would argue that the nuclear family is the norm. The three different types of sociologists; functionalists, feminists and new right all have different views on the family and its importance. Functionalists believe the function of the family is to socialist children, which in turn benefits both society and children. Feminists believe the purpose of the family is to reinforce the dominant position of men without a patriarchal society. New Right believe the role of the family is to teach children the difference between right and wrong, and to provide a sense of morality more widely known as “family values.”

Functionalists such as Murdock and Parsons would say that the nuclear family is the norm. Murdock felt that all families fulfil four functions. The first function being sexual which is where married adults enjoy a healthy sex life which prevents them having affairs and ensures children are raised by their natural parents. The second function is reproductive which involves making the next generation. The third function is economic, by this Murdoch means providing food and shelter. Ideally the man will go out to work and the woman will look after the house and children. The fourth function is educational, by this Murdoch means socialisation which is the process of learning the norms and values of society. This shows the functionalists favour the nuclear family, they feel this provides children with a male and female role model and it also provides socialisation from two parents. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is the one best

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